Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-07
THE REVISED CODE
WORK OF MISSES BURKs, Riley, AND
STAPLES SUBMITTED.
II 10 introduced as a Bill, and VIII
Probably Be Adopted With
out Amendment.

out Amendment.
In the House OF Delegates yester-
day Mr.. Buchanan, of Washington
county, sent up to the Clerks desk
stack of Ms. about two feet in height
and the following report:
ToHe General Asssp,biy Qf the CommonT 'dlth n
FtrgfRia:
The committee appointed under the ioin'
resolution Of the present session OF this Iene-
raj Assembly TO whom was referred the report
Of the reyisers CT the Code respectfully report
that they have performed the dutes when
said resolution devolved upon them, ana tha1
the result Of their investigation Is as follows:
BY the act OF March Is, 1884, under which the
said reyiseisw were appointed, II was made tner
duty
/. To collate and revife all the general sta
tutes, civil snd criminal, Of this Common
wealth which might he In force Mt the ume OF
the completion OF their work.
g. 10 suggest such contradictions. omissions,
or impeifections as they might discern In the
statutes and the mode in which they might be
reconciled, supplied. or amended without pro-
ducing radical change In the present system
Of statute laws.
e To arrange all tho statutes under appro-
pirate titles and chapters and to divide them
into sections, numbering them conseclhvely
from one TO the end.
A. To make such notes. explanations, and
marginal references as might be helpful TO
clear understanding of the statutes
,. To execute and complete In all respects the
revision directed in such manner as In their
opinion will harmonize the general statutes
and make the Code OF statute law as exis;ingat
the close OF their work "a complete as possible.
Tng CHANGES.
Your committee, in the discharge Of their
duty, have examined the Code proposed by the
reviscrs. and as the result OF their labors
find that they have ON some subjects made
no changes whatever in the statutes either
in form or In substance. On many subjects
they have rewritten the statutes in whole or
in pert without, however. making any
material changes in substance, but making
them much mo-e concise and clear, re-
conciling all and apparent contradictions,
supplying omissions, and reme1ying imperfec-
tions. On other subjects they have made
changes both In the letter and the substance OF
the statutes. Wherever material changes had
been made or suggested by them your commit
tee caused such sections to be carefully read
over TO them in the presence OF one or
more Of the revisers, who explained the
changes made or suggested and their reasons
for such changes. Such sections were discussed
and canvassed by your committee; alterations
and notifications were made by them in some
instances, with the approval however, Of the
reyisers, with scarcely an exception.
TITLES AND CHAPTERS.
The revisers have arranged the statutes I'M
der appropriate titles and chapters. and have
thus collected together, under its own appro-
pirate title, all the legislation each particu-
lar subject They have also divided the chap
tors into sections and numbered them consecu-
lively from one to the end, making in all 4,2)i
sections.
Your committee are OF the opinion, and pre-
sent II rs their unanimous conclusion, that tho
reyisers have kept themselves entirely ald
carefully within the powers conferred upon
them so far az their work has been completed; ;
that they have ably and efficiently performed
the duties imposed upon them, and success
fully accomplished the great object aimed at
by the General Assembly in the revision OF the
Code and general statutes of tho Common
wealth as far ~ II was practicable under the
authority given them.
vARIANT VIEWS
Your committee have no hesitation in stating
that some sections and provisions Of the pro-
posed Code did not meet their unanimous ap-
proval. AZ TO such sections or provisions
The vote Of 4 majority OF your committee Goa
trolled. But all OF your committee are salts
fed that a. an entirety the proposed Code IA
entitled to and should receive their unanimous
and unqualified appreciation. They therefore
unanimously recommend 10 the General Assem-
bly, 10 approve and adopt the proposed Code as
4" the Code Of Virginia
Iu the discharge Of their duties your commit
tee have necessarily considered the mode by
which this can but be accomplished.
In order that members Of the General Assem-
bly, might act intelligenty In voting for or
against the adoption of the proposed Code
copies have been printed under the authority
conferred upon your committee and furnished
to each member.
READING OF THE BILL.
In the opinion Of your committee It will b.
utterly impossible to read. canvass, aud discuss
its four thousand two hundred aud four sections
within any reasonable time. Ire reading alone
would require. il IL believed. more than thirty
days. Such a reading, accompanied by the right
of each Of the one hunlred aud forty members
OF the General Assembly to amend and discuss
the various sections OF the proposed Code ~
cOrding 10 the varied views OF each, you'd re-
duire more than the whole period Of a regula-
session OF the General Assembly.
IN the opinion Cf your committee 10 would be
a useless waste Of time and money 70 read tn
propoEed Code without amendment or discus
sion, and altogether impracticable 10 read,
amend, and discuss II within any rea3Ona) DE
time.
CODE PRECEDENTs.
Seeing the difficulties I'm the way. your CON-
miiteo naturally inquired into the precedents
Of this and other States under similar circum-
stances. SO far rs they have been able to As
certain In almost every state revised codes
have Deen adopted by a single act OF legisla-
lation. such as your committee offer with this
report, and upon the action and report Of a
committee. leaving 1t 10 subsequent general
assemblies to correct a1d amend such codes
as occasion might require and their wisdom
might suggest
followed different course. Each section OF
that Code was subjected to n thorough revision
and n separate adoption by the General As
sembly. Tho result Of this course was
period of moro than six months, with
great expense 20 the state. without. 50
far es your committee can discern, making
such improvements IN il ~ the expense OF 80
much time aud money demanded In fact II
may well be doubted whether the Code as IL
came from the hands Of the reyisers and COM
mittee was not better Code than IL was after
il had been revised and amended by the GEN
eral Assembly
Your committee believe that satisfactory rea-
sons Guild be given, II the limits Of their report
did not forbid ii, why the revision OF the pro-
posed Code by the General Assembly might not
be prejudicial rather than beneficial 10 its plan,
structure, harmony. and efficiency.
They, therefore. unanimously recommend
that IL be adopted as whole without amend
ment or change.
NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS.
The reyisers have not completed the notes,
explanations, and marginal references which |
they we're requied 10 make. This IL very |
important part Of their work, ald will require |
some months within which TO complete It.
The proper printing and publication OF the |
Code, If adopted, Is also highly important |
The sections are numbered, as stated above, |
from / cCnsecuuyely to the end. and frequent |
references made fom one section To another
by its number merely Mistakes in such refc- |
rences might result In injustice or wrong, and |
would mar its plan and efficiency.
TIE INDEX.
A good index Is matter OF very great con- |
sequence. Much OF the practical value OF the |
Code depends upon thls-especially among tho |
Justices OF the peace and other Officers OF the |
Commonwealth not learned In the law.
Your committee think 1t proper 70 suggest |
that there are no persons so competent % su- |
perintend the publication OF the Code or 20 |
prepare its index as the reyisers themselves. |
because Of their familiarity with its arrange |
meDt. plan. ard details.
As il will require some months for the re- |
ylsers 70 complete their notes, explanations, |
and marginal references, 10 prepare a proper |
index, and 20 have the whole published, 20 AZ |
committee would suggest that the proposed |
Code should not go into effect until the first day
OF February, 1888, as il provides for In its last
chapter. |
IL the General Assembly shall concur In the |
views presented by your committee, they pre- |
sent as part OF their report bin 20 authorize /
the revsers to prepare an index, 10 complete |
their notes. explanations. and marginal refer |
ences, and 90 supeTintend tueir publication. |
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
HENRY HEATOH,
J. w. q. BLACKSTONE,
W. T. BIBB,
SAMUEL w. WILLIAMS,
GEORGE B. KBgZRLL,
Committee on part OF Senate;
JOHN A. BUCHANAN,
j. THOMPSON BROWN,
A. ID. PAYNE,
B. B. MUNFORD,